What Is a Brain Abscess or Spinal Abscess?
An abscess is a collection of pus caused by an infection. In the central nervous system (CNS), an abscess can be located: • In brain tissue or around the lining of the brain • In the outer covering of the spinal cord (the epidural space) • Inside the sac that contains the spinal cord • On the bones of the spine (vertebrae) Brain abscesses usually are caused by bacteria or fungi that infect part of the brain. The infection causes the area to swell (inflammation). A membrane forms around the infected area. This can help protect your child’s brain by limiting the infection to one area. But if the area continues to swell, it can cause harm by pressing on other brain tissues or blocking the flow of blood to parts of the brain.
